Match packet



Dec. 7, 1937. H c, TRAUTE 2,101,111

MATCH PACKET Filed Dec. 11, 1956 Patented Dec. 7, i937 I un -TED STATE MATCH PACKET I Henry C. Trante, Monmouth Beach, N. 1., assignor to The Diamond Match Company, Wilmington, Dei., a corporation of Delaware Application December 11, 1936, Serial No. 115,291

4 Claim.

This invention relates to match packets, and more especially to the type of book matches wherein matches in card or comb form are provided with a flexible cover having at one end a short fold which covers the butt or uncut portion of the match card and is fastened thereto and to the adjacent portion of the. body of the cover,

and having at the opposite end a: closure flap foldable over the heads and upon the'stems of the matches and adapted to be temporarily held in folded position by inserting the free end of the flap beneath the free edge of the short fold.

' The short fold, being backed by the uncut butt of the match card, affords aneffective support for the friction or ignition material during the striking of a match thereon. If the cover be carelessly left open at that time there is liability of firing the remaining matches by the back flare from the ignited match. While such liability can be overcome by arranging the ignition material on the extreme end of the cover remote from the match heads, in that if the cover be open the natural position of the thumb of one hand of the user while he is holding and striking a match with the other hand, covers and shields the remaining matches in the book, yet in the type of tapering match book now ingeneral 1 use the compas'sof such end is too small for the area of ignition material required for the book of matches. It hasbeen proposed to bend inwardly the thin narrow edge of the cover at the short fold so as to form therein a groove or channel, concave in cross-section, having its walls coated with the ignition material. Since, however, the-book cover is of relatively soft and cheap paperboard the side walls of the groove or channel thus formed lack sufflcient rigidity to exert the requisite ignition pressure on the match head. Moreover, the repeated action of the succeeding match heads on the limited friction area soon destroys the ignition efliciency of the striking material. Agaimif the ignition material be applied to the cover before the formation of the end groove or channel ,such material becomes cracked and flaked during the flexing of the cover strip in the groove forming stage, and, if on the other hand, the ignition material be applied after the formation, of 'the'groove or channel it is difficult, if not practically impossible, to apply a thin and uniform coating of the material to the walls of the groove or channel.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a match book wherein the end of the book remote from the match heads is constructed to present a flat friction bearing sur-* face having ample area and stability toensure the independent igniting of each 01' the matches "of the usual quantity contained in the packet,

which construction can be rapidly and efllciently produced on an automatic match machine without additional manufacturing cost.

v With this object and other objects in view my invention comprises a match packet wherein the extreme end of the cover adjacent the butt or butts of the contained match card or cards is formed to present an elongated rectangular area to which the ignition material is applied, (either before or after the assembling of the cover and matches) which area is preferably medially supported throughout its length by 'the free uncut end or ends of the match card or cards, and is also supported along its two longitudinal edges by means of flaring or pillar brace members which are constituted by the united fold and the adjacent back portion of the cover, as will be hereinafter described; the scope of the inventio being defined in the appended claims. I

In the drawing-- Q Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flexible cover blank for use in my improved book match package. a

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the package, the cover flap being represented as open, and one end of the retaining fold partly in section.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the closed package.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the stapled end portion of the package.

The book match package in the preferred form illustrated in the drawing comprises match combs or cards A and a flexible cover 3 therefor. The match combs or cards (two of which are usually employed) consist of groups of individually removable match stems 5 having ignitable heads 6 and uncut butt or base portions 1. The cover consists of anelongated-rectangular strip of paperboard shaped to provide g body or back 8 having at one end a rectangular portion 9 bent at a right angle to the normal plane of the back, or substantially so, and terminating in an inwardly extending retaining fold Ill which overlies and encases the proximate face oi. the adjacent comb or card butt. This fold, the butts and the cover back are closely united, preferably by means of a clenched staple I l. The other end of the cover strip is extended beyond the heads of the matches to constitute a flexible closure flap l2 which can be folded over the heads and upon the stems of the matches and the free end of the flap then inserted beneath the free edge of the retaining fold.

' The rectangular end portion, which is exteriorly coated with ignition material l3, bears medially throughout its length againstthe opposing edges of the card or comb butts, and is of substantial width so as to extend laterally beyond the butts, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 4, thus presenting an ample ignition area for the matches.

The fastening l I is applied in such spaced relation tothe rectangular end portion 9 that the parts It and I5 of the fold l0 and back 8 adjacent such end portion, are caused to diverge from the adjacent butt portions to the respective longitudinal edges of the end portion and thereby serve as stiff lateral braces which in conjunction with the edges of the butts 1 support in an eilicient manner the relatively broad ignition end of the cover. Preferably the cover strip is provided with suitably-disposed score lines i6 which ensure the uniform formation of the rectangular end portion.

By virtue of the described formation and arrangement of the ignition end of the match book in relation to the retaining fold increased downward or gripping pressure is exerted by the free end of the fold, thus ensuring the retention of the closure flap thereunder in folded position. By firmlyholding such ignition end at its longitudinal edges and at the same time slightly flexing or bowing the body of the book during the tuckingof the closure flap beneath the free edge of the fold, such free edge is lifted or opened sufficiently to facilitate the insertion thereunder of the end of the closure flap, even when the margins of the cards are ruptured by the removal of matches therefrom. When the ignition end of the match book is released the fold effectually grips the free end of the closure flap placed thereunder, as previously mentioned.

Book matches embodying my invention can be compactly arranged side by side in cartons, and they can be efilciently stackedv in the supply columns of vending machines.

I claim- 1. A match packet embodying at least one card or comb of matches provided with a flexible cover comprising a body having a fold which overlies the proximate face of the butt portion of the card or comb, and a rectangular end portion providing a fiat friction bearing surface of substantial width connecting said body and fold, said-end portion being exteriorly coated with ignition material and extended laterally beyond and medially supported longitudinally of the opposing free edge of the said butt portion, and means closely uniting the said fold, butt portion and cover, said means being spaced from the free edge of the butt portion, and the parts of the fold and cover body adjacent the rectangular end portion of the cover diverging from said butt portion to the respective longitudinal edges of said end portion and serving as lateral braces therefor.

2. A match packet embodying at least one card or comb of matches provided with a flexible cover comprising a body having' at its respective ends a fold which overlies the proximate face of the butt portion of the card or comb, and a front closure flap foldableover the heads and upon the stems of the matches, and comprising also a rectangular end portion providing a flat friction bearing surface of substantial width connecting said body and fold, said end portion being exteriorly coated with ignition-material and extended laterally beyond and medially supported longitudinally by the opposing free edge of said butt portion, and staple means closely uniting the said fold, butt portion and cover, said means being spaced from the free edge of the butt portion, and the parts of the fold and cover body adjacent the rectangular end portion of the cover diverging from said butt portion to the respective longitudinal edges of said end portion and serving as lateral braces therefor.

3. A match packet embodying at least one card or comb of matches provided with a flexible cover comprising a body having a fold which overlies the proximate face of the butt portion of the card or comb, and a rectangular end portion providing a flat friction bearing surface of substantial width connecting said body and fold, said end portion being exteriorly coated with ignition material and extended laterally beyond the opposing free edge of the said butt portion, and means closely uniting the said fold, butt portion and cover, said means being spaced from the free edge of the butt portion, and the parts of the fold and cover body adjacent the rectangular end portion of the cover diverging from said butt portion to the respective longitudinal edges of said end portion and serving as lateral braces therefor.

4. A match packet embodying at least one card or comb of matches provided with a flexible cover comprising a body having at its respective'ends a fold which overlies the proximate face of the said body and fold, said end portion being exteriorly coated with ignition material-and extended laterally beyond the opposing free edge of said butt portion, and staple means closely uniting the, said fold, butt portion and cover, said means being spaced from the free edge ,of the butt portion, and the parts of the fold and cover body adjacent the rectangular end portion ofthe cover diverging from said butt portion to the re-' spective longitudinal edges of said end portion and serving as lateral braces therefor. I

} HENRY C. 

